Operating a processing tool in a degraded mode upon detecting a fault

1. A method, comprising: detecting a fault associated with a processing tool capable of processing one or more workpieces; and operating the processing tool in a degraded mode in response to detecting the fault and in accordance with one or more business rules.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault comprises detecting at least one of a processing fault and a operational fault associated with the processing tool.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a plurality of faults associated with the processing tool.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein operating the processing tool comprises prioritizing the plurality of faults according to a priority scheme.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein prioritizing the faults comprises assigning a higher priority to a fault resulting in a greater functional impact to the processing tool relative to another fault that results in a lesser functional impact to the processing tool.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the processing tool comprises determining one or more functions that the processing tool is capable of performing after an occurrence of the fault.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the processing tool comprises determining one or more tasks to be completed and performing at least one of the tasks based on determining that the processing tool is capable of performing the at least one of the tasks after the occurrence of the fault.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault comprises determining the fault based on comparing operational data received from the processing tool to fault model data.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the fault comprises: receiving data associated with the processing tool; and detecting, using a fault detection unit, the fault associated with the processing tool based on the received data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the processing tool in accordance with the one or more business rules comprises operating the processing tool in accordance with a business need of an entity.

11. The method of claim 1 , Wherein operating the processing tool in accordance with the one or more business rules comprises identifying a product among a plurality of products to process and processing at least a portion of the identified product using the processing tool.

12. An apparatus, comprising: an interface; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the interface, the control unit adapted to: detect an occurrence of a fault in a processing tool capable of processing a workpiece; determine at least one function that the processing tool is capable of performing after the occurrence of the fault; and indicate to the processing tool to perform the determined function in accordance with one or more business rules.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect at least one of a processing fault and operational fault associated with the processing tool.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect a plurality of faults associated with the processing tool.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the control unit is adapted to prioritize the plurality of faults according to a level of functional impact the plurality of faults have on the processing tool.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the at least one function based on selecting a task that requires the at least one function for completion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the control unit is adapted to select the task based on a business rule designating the task as a higher priority than other tasks.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the fault based on comparing operational data received from the processing tool to fault model data.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to: receive data associated with the processing tool; and detect, using a fault detection unit, the fault associated with the processing tool based on the received data.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is adapted to operate the processing tool in accordance with the one or more business rules that prioritize one or more tasks based on a business need of an entity.

21. An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to: detect a fault associated with a processing tool capable of processing one or more workpieces; determine at least one function that the processing tool is capable of performing based on detected fault; and cause the processing tool to perform the determined function in accordance with one or more business rules.

22. The article of claim 21 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to detect a plurality of faults associated with the processing tool.

23. The article of claim 22 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to prioritize the plurality of faults according to a level of functional impact the plurality of faults have on the processing tool.

24. The article of claim 21 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to determine the at least one function based on selecting a task that requires the at least one function for completion.

25. The article of claim 24 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to select the task based on a business rule designating the task as a higher priority than other tasks.

26. The article of claim 21 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to detect at least one of a processing fault and operational fault associated with the processing tool.

27. The article of claim 21 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to: receive data associated with the processing tool; and detect, using a fault detection unit, the fault associated with the processing tool based on the received data.

28. A system, comprising: at least one processing tool; and a control unit communicatively coupled to the processing tool, the control unit adapted to: detect a fault in the processing tool; determine at least one function that the processing tool is capable of performing based on the detected fault; and indicate to the processing tool to perform the determined function in accordance with one or more business rules.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the control unit is communicatively coupled to the processing tool over an advanced process control framework.

30. An apparatus, comprising: means for detecting a fault associated with a processing tool capable processing one or more workpieces; and means for operating the processing tool in a degraded mode in response to detecting the fault and in accordance with one or more business rules.